Zoom helps Headway Gippsland group avoid lockdown isolation
Staying home had an unexpected way of strengthening connections in a local social group for people with disabilities.
The members created Zoom accounts to maintain social contact during lockdown and the group dynamic even became more personalised even though they could not be together face-toface, its coordinator said.
“We’d have people taking us on a tour of their kitchen and we’d see what their loungeroom looked like. I loved seeing people’s knick-knacks,” Headway Gippsland social support group coordinator Michelle Meggetto said.
Before COVID-19, the Warragul-based group would catch up every Friday and learn new skills such as cooking and crafts
according to their goals and interests. When restrictions came into effect, Ms Meggetto seized the opportunity to move the group online and build skills with technology.
“Social inclusion has massive benefits in improving mental health. That’s why we tried to keep connected and reduce loneliness and isolation,” Ms Meggetto said. “Zoom is good because you can sit there in your pyjamas.”
Participant Trevor Campbell agreed lockdown would have
been a challenge if the social group had stopped entirely. “I thought Michelle did a magnificent job keeping us together even when we weren’t meeting. She had us doing puzzles over the telephone,” he said. The participants received monthly activity packs during lockdown containing quizzes, games and even prizes in the mail.
Phone Headway Gippsland on 5127 7166 or visit headway gippsland.org.au for more information on social support groups.